CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — The Charles County Board of Education began early discussions on the 2027–2028 school year calendar during its Jan. 13 meeting, outlining what goes into building the schedule and how community input will shape the final product.
The presentation was led by Shelley Mackey, director of communications for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). Mackey explained that school calendars are developed at least two years in advance, meaning the 2026–2027 calendar is already approved, and attention is now turning to the following year.
Community Input Through Calendar Committee
A key part of the calendar process is the formation of a calendar committee, which includes parents, students, staff, union representatives, and school system leaders. The committee will begin meeting every other week starting Feb. 4 at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Volunteers must be available to attend in-person meetings twice per month, and those interested must complete an interest form by noon on Friday, Jan. 30.
“I think as of today, we have 50 interested community members, of which 30 are students,” Mackey said. “So I’m happy to see that because last year we did not have a whole lot of student interest.”
What Shapes the Calendar
Mackey outlined several requirements and considerations that shape the school calendar each year, including state law, inclement weather days, and union agreements. For example, the Education Association of Charles County (EACC) contract includes 190 teacher workdays, with 10 early-dismissal days for collaborative planning and additional early dismissals for report card preparation. The AFSCME contract for support staff includes 15 paid holidays annually.
She also noted that under Senate Bill 610, local boards may approve virtual instruction days for inclement weather closures, but only after all built-in makeup days are used and the plan is publicly posted.
Support For Two-Week Winter Break
One key topic board members and staff agreed on was the value of a full two-week winter break, which has been well received by families, students, and staff. While calendar dates may shift slightly when holidays fall on weekends, Mackey said the overall structure is expected to remain familiar.
“I think the calendar for next year looks very similar to our calendar this year,” she said.
Board members also supported keeping long-standing features such as Veterans Day observance, a full spring break, and not starting school after Labor Day.
Board Member Feedback
Board Member Ms. Patterson urged the committee to consider how testing dates are scheduled in relation to breaks.
“I just wanted us to, if you could add about being conscious of testing dates when they come back from break — all breaks — just be conscious of testing.”
Board members also emphasized continuing two parent-teacher conferences per year, and some recommended expanding those to full-day conferences to better support families with multiple children.
There was also discussion about possibly coordinating with Charles County Recreation, Parks, and Tourism to explore child care options during extended school breaks, especially to support working parents who may not have flexible time off.
Printed vs. Digital Calendars
The board also discussed whether CCPS should reduce the number of printed school calendars. Board Member Jamila Smith suggested evaluating whether families still find the printed version useful, noting that many students rely on digital tools and that printed copies may no longer be necessary.
In response, Mackey said the idea could be explored further through community feedback and emphasized the growing use of online access.
“I’d like to put that as a survey question for that greater community feedback and input,” Mackey said.
She also noted that the calendar is consistently one of the top five most-visited pages on the CCPS website, drawing thousands of views each year, which supports the idea of shifting toward digital-first access.
What Happens Next
The calendar committee begins meeting Feb. 4. Calendar model options will be shared with the board in March, and a community survey is expected later in the spring.
“I believe I’m slated to come back before you in March with our update ” Mackey said.
Community members interested in joining the calendar committee must submit the interest form by noon on Jan. 30.
Community members interested in joining the calendar committee must submit the interest form by noon on Jan. 30. You can learn more and access the form at www.ccboe.com.
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